We are exploring an innovative approach to transform higher education—one that enhances how universities prepare students for their careers and increases student satisfaction with career readiness and placement after graduation.

Our proposed solution to disrupt higher education is the creation of a “Career Skills Department” within universities, where every student is required to take courses aligned with their career goals prior to graduation. Within this department, each student would choose a “Career Track”which gives them access to a curated list of available courses tailored to their specific professional interests. Having to select a track would be included in each students' degree plan and would replace traditional general education requirements. Courses would be taught by industry professionals recruited directly from the workforce. Each course would begin with a focus on developing specific technical skills, followed by a hands-on component in which students apply what they’ve learned through real-world projects in partnership with professional companies.

Example: For students in the “Accounting Track,” students would begin by learning core accounting principles, taught by a practicing accountant from a professional firm. The second part of the semester would be dedicated to applying those skills through a real-world accounting project, supervised by the same firm—allowing students to earn academic credit while gaining valuable hands-on experience.